British Designer Antony Price, Renowned for Designing for David Bowie and Duran Duran, Dies at 80.
Fashion legend Antony Price, the influential UK-based designer behind a series of unforgettable images favored by artists from David Bowie to Roxy Music and even royalty like Queen Camilla, has sadly died at the age of 80.
Price was best known for his defined forms and theatrical styles, including the light-hued ensembles that appeared in the pop-rock group Duran Duran's classic music video for "their hit Rio".
"Remembering him as a 'visionary' and a 'kind, intelligent and razor-witted friend,' the band released a statement across their platforms."
This news arrives just weeks after he presented his newest line in London, which was his first major show in over 30 years. Artist Lily Allen modelled a dress inspired by the notorious black velvet "dress" once worn by the late Princess Diana.
A Pioneering Career
A native of Yorkshire, born in 1945, Price headed for London during the sixties to attend the esteemed Royal College of Art.
Shortly after his graduation, he began designing menswear at the company Stirling Copper and was responsible for the tight, button-detailed trousers that rock legend Mick Jagger sported during the band's Gimme Shelter tour in the late sixties.
He founded his own label in 1979 and presented his inaugural collection a year later. The show was launched by looks from the famed model Jerry Hall, who later wore the bridal gown Price designed for her for her wedding to Sir Mick Jagger.
Partnerships with Stars
A frequent collaborator of the late David Bowie, Price created the distinctive jacket the star wore for his "As The World Falls Down" music video in 1986.
His trademark skill to blend menswear and womenswear along with his technical proficiency in crafting form-fitting garments established him as a "one-of-a-kind talent," according to the British Fashion Council.
By the 1990s, he started creating pieces for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, including a number of outfits for her American tour after becoming Duchess.
After a career spanning more than five decades, Price staged what would be his last show in London recently in conjunction with the label 16Arlington.
- Sculpted Silhouettes: A hallmark of his work.
- Dramatic Impact: Shaping the look of rock and pop.
- Gender-Fluid Fashion: Creating a unique, androgynous style.
- Clients from Stage to Palace: From David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Queen Camilla.
The industry mourns the loss to a authentic original whose legacy on the visual landscape of music remains indelibly etched.
